Learning Spanish

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Travelling internationally is a great gift for children as it creates an awareness of other cultures, traditions and languages.
Because children learn faster at an earlier age, it is a perfect time for them to learn Spanish. A whole new world will open up to them, allowing for increased cognitive, social and vocational development. Here are just some of the lifetime benefits:
• Improved listening ability for sound distinctions
• Increased understanding of their own native language as well as an appreciation for other countries and cultures
• Greater confidence when travelling and working with others from foreign countries
• Improved intellectual development resulting in higher test scores and advanced educational placement
• Enhanced marketability in the business world
Learning a new language can be an exciting goal but it can also be frustrating and overwhelming at times. That’s when you have to keep it fresh and creative. Here are some ideas to help your family learn Spanish.

We all know that reading to a child allows them to learn new words and make associations. Try alternating your child’s nightly reading schedule. Read an English book one night and a Spanish book the next. This will enable them to learn two languages at once.

Puerto Vallarta has so many wonderful books with characters that your child may already know and some new characters that they are going to love. Many local bookstores and supermarkets have a wide variety of picture and activity books, magazines and young adult novels to enjoy.

Passive listening is an important part of picking up a second language and you can do this by playing Spanish music in the house, in the car or at the beach. Song lyrics have repetitive melodies which help with memory by reinforcing new vocabulary and syntax. Many PV stores offer a wide selection of Spanish CDs for all ages and interests.
When education is combined with interaction, it’s easy to forget that you are learning! Board games, number games, memory games, they are all incredibly helpful. The Mexican game of chance, Loteria, is similar to Bingo, a game that many children already know. Instead of using numbers, it uses pictures and corresponding words. This is an easy way for children to learn the Spanish name and spelling of objects.
For kids who love computer games, there are numerous software programs that teach Spanish. Pick up some games and take them home to encourage your child’s enthusiasm and progress.
Other methods include labeling objects in your home, office or classroom using Post-it notes with Spanish names. Put together an “A to Z” photo project by taking pictures of items around town that begin with an A, B, C and so on. Be sure to use the Spanish word and see how many you can collect by the end of your stay.
Young children love to interact with puppets so use these child-friendly characters to tell a story or practice new vocabulary words.
Go to a movie that with Spanish subtitles or watch a DVD in Spanish.
While dining at a Mexican restaurant, study the menu and identify ingredients that are used such as pollo (chicken), leche (milk), queso (cheese), arroz (rice) and verduras (vegetables).
Literally hundreds if not thousands of words are very similar in spelling, if not the same, in English and Spanish. Make it a game to discover how many of these words your family can identify.
Attend a Spanish class. Anything that you can do as a family will provide encouragement and enthusiasm for your child. Numerous resorts offer beginning classes and several language schools around town have multilevel courses. Private tutors are also available for an hourly rate.
Buena suerte y disfruta tu estancia en México! (Good luck and enjoy your stay in Mexico!)